Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Enfields > Info for New Enfield Owners
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - 303 Loading Data
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic Closed303 Loading Data

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Topic: 303 Loading Data
    Posted: September 20 2009 at 7:46pm
Topic: Factory Military Loadings
    Posted: 04 June 2008 at 7:55pm

Here is a brief history of the British loadings for the 303 cartridge.

MK I 20 Feb. 1889 71.5 grains black powder 215 grain RNFMJ
MK II 3 Nov. 1891 31 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain FPFMJ
MK II 1 June 1893 31 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain RNFMJ
MK III Exp. 1893 31 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain tubed HP
MK IV Exp. 1893 31 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain HP
MK V 17 Oct. 1899 31 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain HP (new core)
MK VI 29 Jan. 1909 32 grains Cordite Mk I 215 grain RNFMJ
MK VII 3 Nov. 1910 37 grains Cordite MDT 174 grain Spire FMJ
MK VII Z

?

Nitrocellulose 174 grain FMJ M.G. use
MK VIII

?

Cordite MDT 174 grain Spire Copper
MK VIII Z

?

Nitrocellulose 174 grain Spire Copper
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 7:58pm
Here some published max loads and some of my notes of results with some of the powders I've used. I try to duplicate military loads and before the Sierra 174 match bullet came out I got best accuracy with the Sierra 180 grain hunting bullet. I have noticed that the 174 grain match bullet gives me higher pressure and velocity with the same powder charges compared to other 174 grain bullets and 180 grain bullets. The Accuracy Arms reflects the same and reduces charges for the 174 grain match bullets. ADI and others either reduce for the 180 grain bullet or have the same data for both bullet weights.

IMR-3031 - 174 grain

38.5gr (equals military)(my max load, this is 120 fps faster than 38.0 grains)

38.8gr (Sierra)



IMR-3031 - 180 grain

38.3gr (IMR)

39.0gr (highest published load)



IMR-4895 - 174 grain

42,0gr (Sierra)(highest published load)

41.5gr (my max load)

40.5gr (equals military)



IMR-4895 - 180 grain

43.0gr (highest published)

42.0gr (Sierra)

40.0gr

41.0gr (IMR)



IMR-4064 - 174 grain

40.6gr (my accuracy load)

40.7gr (Sierra max and accuracy load)

41.5gr (highest published load)

IMR-4064 - 180 grain



40.0gr

41.1gr (IMR)

39.3gr (Hornady)

41.0gr (my hunting load, very accurate)

40.7gr (Sierra)

42.0gr (highest published load)



IMR-4320 - 174 grain

43.0gr (Sierra) (highest published load)

42.5gr (my max and equals military)

39.0gr (Hornady)



IMR-4320 - 180 grain

43.0gr (Sierra)

44.0gr (highest published load)

41.0gr



H-4895 - 174gr

38.0gr (Hodgdon) (equals military, okay with CCI primer, high pressure with Remington primer)

37.4gr (Hornady) (higher velocity than IMR-3031)

#41.0gr (old pre-ADI H-4895, DO NOT USE, only shown for reference)



H-4895 - 180 grain

38.0gr (Hodgdon, consider this max!)

#40.0gr (may be for old pre-ADI H-4895, still listed as current data, not recommended)



Varget - 174 grain

42.0gr (Hodgdon) (borderline high pressure with CCI primer, extreme overpressure with Remington primer) (highest published load)

39.1gr (Hornady)

38.4gr (Sierra)



Varget - 180 grain

41.0gr (Hodgdon)

38.4gr (Sierra)

41.7gr (highest published load)




AA-2520 - 174 grain (40.0gr is accurate)

38.0gr (Sierra)

39.0gr (Hornady)

42.0gr (highest published load) (equals military)

39.0gr (Accurate Arms)



AA-2520 - 180 grain

44.0gr (Accurate Arms, highest published  load, may be old made in Israel powder, current Czech-made powder is faster)

38.0gr (Sierra)




AA-2460 - 174 grain

40.0gr (my max load, equals military but leaves lot of space in case)




AA-2460 - 180 grain

40.5gr (Accurate Arms)




H-335 - 174 grain

39.5gr (Hodgdon)



H-335 - 180 grain

39.0gr (Hodgdon)

41.0gr (highest published load)

40.0gr (best I got with this powder, leaves lots of space in case)




RL-15 - 174 grain

40.0gr (Hornady)

43.5gr (highest published load)

41.0gr (equals military)




RL-15 - 180 grain

42.0gr (Alliant Powder)

43.7gr (highest published load)



Usually with IMR powders Remington primers seem slightly milder than CCI primers. With the Hodgdon ADI powder I got higher pressures and velocities using Remington primers compared to CCI primers. This has kept me from using much Hodgdon powder but it does measure easier.

The only ball powder that gave my anywhere close to proper case fill was AA-2520. I get best results with IMR powders using Remington primers. I get best results with Hodgdon/ADI powders using CCI primers. With Alliant  RL-15 and the ball powders I get best results with Federal primers.






















Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:00pm
Here are some results from some of the better powders I've used. Before there was a Sierra Match King bullet the most accurate bullet for me was the Sierra 180 grain hunting bullet. I did try all of the Hornady bullets and I prefer Hornady bullets in 308 and 30-06 but in 303 I've had better results with Sierra's.

I noticed Vihtavuori and ADI calls for about one more grain of powder with the 174 grain Sierra than the 180 grain Sierra. My results and at least one of my load guides have the reverse results. I had worked up loads for the 180 grain bullet to match military ammo but when I switched to the 174 grain match bullet I had to back off the loads by one to two grains for both pressure and velocity.

My 174 grain loads

IMR-3031 - 38.5 grains
(max Sierra - 38.8gr, max IMR - 38.3gr)

IMR-4895 - 40.5 grains
 (max Sierra 42.0gr, max IMR - 41.0gr)

IMR-4064 - 40.6 grains
(max Sierra 40.7gr, max IMR - 41.1gr, max Hornady - 39.3gr)

IMR-4320 - 42.5 grains
(max Sierra 43.0gr, max Hornady 39.0gr)

Note magnum primer increases velocity of IMR powder loads by 40 - 45fps.  No overpressure.

RL-15 - 41.0 grains
(max Hornady 40.0gr, max Alliant 42.0gr)

Note magnum primer increases RL-15 velocity 80fps.  No overpressure.

H-4895 - 38.0 grains
(max Hodgdon 38.0gr, max Hornady 37.4gr)

Note H-4895 pressure and velocity good with CCI-BR2, some overpressure and sticky bolt with Remington 9 1/2 primer.

Varget - 40.0 grains
(max Hodgdon 42.0gr<41.0gr w/180gr bullet>, max Sierra 38.4gr, max Hornady 39.1gr)

Note Varget pressure good with CCI-BR2 primer, great overpressure and high velocity with Remington 9 1/2 primer.


Vihtavuori is expensive in the US and I'm still working on it.

My current VV N-140 load is 40.7 grains with the 174gr Sierra.

(max Sierra 41.2gr, max Hornady 40.3gr, max VV 41.7gr<39.7gr w/180gr bulle
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:13pm
Cartridge:  303 British
Load Type:  Rifle
Starting Loads

Maximum Loads

 
Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure    

125 GR. SPR SP  Hodgdon  Varget  .311"  2.915"  45.0  2766  39,200 CUP  48.0  2883  42,100 CUP     
125 GR. SPR SP  Hodgdon  H335  .311"  2.915"  42.0  2741  35,900 CUP  46.0  2966  43,000 CUP     
125 GR. SPR SP  Hodgdon  H4895  .311"  2.915"  41.0  2791  42,400 CUP  45.0  2931  43,700 CUP     
150 GR. HDY SP  Hodgdon  Varget  .312"  2.995"  39.0  2458  39,600 CUP  43.0  2656  42,700 CUP     
150 GR. HDY SP  IMR  IMR 4064  .311"  2.995"        44.7  2699  46,400 PSI     
150 GR. HDY SP  Hodgdon  BL-C(2)  .312"  2.995"  43.0  2502  34,000 CUP  48.0  2756  39,200 CUP     
150 GR. HDY SP  IMR  IMR 4895  .311"  2.995"        44.2  2689  46,600 PSI     
150 GR. HDY SP  Hodgdon  H335  .312"  2.995"  37.0  2430  34,700 CUP  42.0  2706  43,100 CUP     
150 GR. HDY SP  Hodgdon  H4895  .312"  2.995"  36.0  2447  40,300 CUP  40.0  2627  43,600 CUP     
150 GR. HDY SP  IMR  IMR 3031  .311"  2.995"        41.0  2632  46,100 PSI     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  Hybrid 100V  .311"  3.075"  42.0  2223  36,000 CUP  46.0C  2399  40,300 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  H4350  .311"  3.075"  43.0  2266  35,400 CUP  48.0C  2517  41,900 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  H414  .311"  3.075"  43.0  2302  35,200 CUP  46.0  2447  41,000 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Winchester  760  .311"  3.075"  43.0  2302  35,200 CUP  46.0  2447  41,000 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  Varget  .311"  3.075"  38.0  2345  38,800 CUP  42.0  2509  43,800 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  BL-C(2)  .311"  3.075"  43.0  2442  36,400 CUP  46.5  2616  42,900 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  H335  .311"  3.075"  36.0  2340  38,600 CUP  39.5  2503  43,400 CUP     
174 GR. SIE HPBT  Hodgdon  H4895  .311"  3.075"  34.0  2262  38,800 CUP  38.0  2446  43,600 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  Hybrid 100V  .311"  3.075"  42.0  2232  36,200 CUP  46.0C  2384  41,700 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  H4350  .311"  3.075"  44.0  2295  35,700 CUP  48.0C  2500  43,800 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  H414  .311"  3.075"  42.0  2231  35,400 CUP  46.0  2435  42,500 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Winchester  760  .311"  3.075"  42.0  2231  35,400 CUP  46.0  2435  42,500 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  Varget  .311"  3.075"  37.0  2282  38,200 CUP  41.0  2440  43,400 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  IMR  IMR 4064  .311"  3.075"        41.1  2400  45,700 PSI     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  BL-C(2)  .311"  3.075"  41.0  2395  37,100 CUP  45.0  2563  43,000 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  IMR  IMR 4895  .311"  3.075"        41.0  2399  46,100 PSI     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  H335  .311"  3.075"  36.0  2286  36,400 CUP  39.0  2449  42,700 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  Hodgdon  H4895  .311"  3.075"  34.0  2178  35,200 CUP  38.0  2400  43,500 CUP     
180 GR. SIE SP  IMR  IMR 3031  .311'  3.075"        38.3  2341  46,500 P
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:25pm
This is a list I  made of the bullet weights I normally use. I have only found a few lighter bullets of 125 and 150 grains that will engage enough rifling to b accurate so I usually limit my bullet weights to 174 and 180 bullets. I also like to load close to military ammo velocity.

A couple of notes, The 40.0 grain load of H-4895 may be of older, slower, non-Aussie H-4895 aa I get military velocity with about 38.0 grains but switching primers even with this load can cause a sticky bolt from overpressure. The load guide that calls for 37.4 grains might be about right. The oddest thing about using this powder is normally for with IMR-4895 and IMR-4064 I find Remington 9 1/2 primers slightly milder than CCI-200 primers, but with H-4895 The pressure is higher with the Rem 9 1/2 than the CCI-200. There is a Rem 9 1/2M mgnum primer and maybe the packaging was mixed up but the sticky bolt has made me shy a.way from H-4895 in 303.

I was told by somebody at Accurate Arms that AA-4064 is 7% slower than IMR-4064, or rather it was stated to me that "AA-4064 has a 7% pressure advantage compared to IMR-4064". Their published 40.0 grain load is very light but the 45.0 grain load seems about right for max.

AA-2495 seems to produce a lot of heat and even leaves more copper fouling from jacketed bullets than other powders. I have seen velocity increases leave more copper fouling but this is the only powder I've seen that increases copper fouling from heat.

Hodgdon no longer list W-748 for use in 303 but the 40.0 and 38.8 grain loads seem a bit light but W-748 does have a very steep pressure curve compared to other powders.

In some other cartridges I have had erratic results with IMR-4320 but in 303 it seems a good all round powder. RL-15 i forgiving also. Good velocity with IMR-4895 and N-140 but best accuracy with IMR-4064.

My last note concerns bullet weight and design.  Some load guides have the same data for both 174 grain and 180 grain bullets. Some have slightly lighter loads for the "heavier" 180 grain bullets. Some have slightly light loads for the 174 grain Sierra Match King and this I do agree. I found with the SMK bullet both pressure and velocity increase over other bullets of the same weight and over all 180 grain bullets I've used. The load guides that download the max load for the SMK one to two grains is about right with my results. Som lod guides use the lighter SMK load for all 174 and 180 grin bullets which is saf but the ones that have higher loads for 174 grain bullets that include the SMK, I think have something off a bit.

These are all maximum loads published in different load guides and some are a bit old. The ADI August 2004 guide refers to AR-2206H as a "new" powder. This is the same powder as current H4895 which is faster than older H-4895 and the newer stuff seems nearer to IMR-3031 than IMR-4895. Besides the age of the load guides some data even in newer guides isn't always updated to the latest powders in all cartridges. 303 seems to be one of the ones that gets updated last, if at all.

174

IMR-3031 - 38.8 - 38.5

IMR-4895 - 42.0 - 41.5

IMR-4064 - 41.5 - 40.7 - 40.6

IMR-4320 - 43.0

H-4895 - 38.0 - 37.4

Varget - 42.0 - 38.4

AA-2495 - 42.0 - 37.3

AA-4064 - 40.0 (powder is 7% slower than IMR-4064, light load)

N-135 - 38.4

N-140 - 41.8 - 41.7 - 41.2

W-748 - 40.0

BL-C(2) - 46.5

RL-15 - 42.0

H-335 - 39.5

AA-2520 - 39.0 - 38.0

AA-2460 - 40.0

AA-2230 - 39.0


180

IMR-3031 - 39.0 - 38.3

IMR-4895 - 43.0 - 41.0

IMR-4064 - 42.0 - 41.1

IMR-4320 - 44.0 - 43.0

H-4895 - 40.0 (HOT! may be old H-4895) - 38.0 - 37.4

Varget - 41.7 - 41.0

AA-2495 - 44.0 - 37.3

AA-4064 - 46.0 - 45.0

N-135 - 36.4

N-140 - 41.7 - 41.2 - 39.7

W-748 - 40.0 - 38.8

BL-C(2) - 45.0

RL-15 - 43.7

H-335 - 41.0 - 39.0

AA-2520 - 44.0 - 38.0

AA-2460 - 40.5

AA-2230 - 40.0




Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:26pm
ADI
Hodgdon
Alliant
IMR
Winchester
Vectan
Norma
Accurate Arms
Vihtavuori
 
 
 
 
 
 
R-1
 
 
 
 
Bullseye
 
 
 
 
 
N310
AS30N
Clays
Red Dot
 
 
AS
N2010
NITRO 100
 
Trail Boss
   
Trail Boss
         
AP50N
HP 38
e3
PB
W231
 
 
AA 2
N320
AS50N
International
Green Dot
700X
WST
 
 
AA 5
 
AP70N
Universal
Unique
SR 7625
 
 
 
 
N330
 
 
Herco
 
WSF
A1
 
 
 
 
 
 
800X
WAP
 
 
AA 7
N340
AP100
 
 
SR 4756
 
 
 
 
 
 
HS- 6
 
 
W540
 
 
 
3N37
 
HS- 7
Blue Dot
 
W571
 
 
AA 9
N350
 
 
Steel
 
 
Ba 6
 
 
N105
 
 
2400
SR4759
 
 
 
 AA4100
N110
AR2205
H4227 / H110
 
IMR4227
W296
 
R- 123
AA1680
N120
AR2207
H4198
Reloader 7
IMR4198
W680
Tu 2000
N200
 
N130
BM1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N133
AR2219
H322
10-X
 
 
 
 
 
 
BM2
BENCHMARK
 
IMR3031
 
 
 
AA2015
 
AR2206
BLC( 2)
 
 
 
Tu 3000
 
AA2230
 
 
H335
 
 
W748
 
 
 
N135
AR2206H
H4895
 
IMR4895
 
Tu 5000
 
AA2460
 
AR2208
Varget
 
IMR4064
 
 
 
AA2520
 
 
 
 
IMR4320
 
 
N201
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N202
AA2700
N140 / N540
 
H380
Reloader 15
 
 
 
N203
 
 
AR2209
H414/ H4350
 
IMR4350
W760
Tu 7000
N204
AA4350
N150 / N550
 
H450
Reloader 19
 
 
 
N205
 
 
 
 
 
IMR4831
WMR
 
 
AA3100
N160 / N560
AR2213SC
H4831
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reloader 22
IMR7828
WXR
Tu 8000
MRP
 
N165
AR2217
H1000
 
 
 
 
 
 
N170
AR2225
Retumbo
Reloader 25
 
 
 
 
Magpro 
24N41
AR2218
H870/ H50BMG
 
 
 
 
 
AA8700
20N29

NOTE: These tables are only approximate, showing equivalence within about 5%.


   ADI powder burning rate comparison chart

 On the subject of Max loads & the .303 Brit many manuals don't stipulate whether these are loads for MK111 actions only or#4 actions as well ! Some will stipulate a reduction of at least 3 gns from Max Loads for use in MK111 actions or even do not exceed starting loads in MK111 actions


   

Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:57pm
Posted: 26 January 2006 at 7:05pm - IP: 68.222.116.239

150 grain Soft Point

IMR-3031   36.9 

IMR-4895   37.7

IMR-4060   38.5

IMR-4320   39.1 

H380          39.9

H414          42.9

These are all min. starting loads

Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
Tony View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: April 18 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3256
Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 20 2009 at 8:59pm
Topic: More .303 Brit loads
    Posted: 26 January 2006 at 6:49am - IP: 144.139.135.240 Ok how about these    125 gn = 41.4 of H4895
                                 150gn = 38.7  of H4895
                                 174/180gn =36.0  of H4895
                                 215gn =35.1  of H4895

   These are loads 10% below max & are safe for use in Martini & Mk3 actions
   Cast loads can be calculated at the Max load then x by 60% = reduced load
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.